California Academy of Sciences

Location: San Francisco, CaliforniaCompletion Date: July 2008Exhibit Designer: Thinc DesignPrimary Scenic Fabricator: Dixon Studios, LLCProject Details: The giant 3 story enclosure for the rainforest habitat draws visitors up from below in the underwater viewing tunnel and around for dramatic views of the rain forest trees and animals. The embankment and buttress trees with their strangler fig shrouds were all fabricated and installed by Dixon Studios, LLC in the tank. The trees span two floors in the glass bolla. The California Academy of Sciences Steinhart Aquarium underwent a major renovation to recreate itself in the new Platinum LEED certified building. Dixon Studio, LLC fabricated the artificial coral reef with Thinc Design in what is now the largest aquarium coral tank in the world. This 212,00 gallon tank has both cementitious coral substrate as well as fabricated replications of living coral and treats visitors to a front row seat to a living coral reef. Visitors are delighted by the popular penguin exhibit in the redesigned 1920’s Vintage African Hall. A Penguin habitat is a complicated project and Dixon Studio, LLC worked closely with the curators to create a realistic habitat that meshed with the daily needs of the penguins and their keepers.